Azure vase sponge
Callyspongia plicifera
(Lamarck, 1814)

Description:
Vase-shaped or tubaeform with the outer surface characteristically provided with an elaborate system of meandering grooves and/or rounded pits. Terminal vent somewhat constricted, with a transparent, thin collar. Vases mostly solitary, but occasionally there are small side-tubes. Inner walls smooth, somewhat ridged lengthwise, with scattered oscules, 1-5 mm in diameter. Longitudinal fibrofascicles stand out clearly on the inner wall and collar (C. plicifera-young sponge). Vases up to 27 cm in height, 13.5 cm in diameter; vents up to 6.5 cm in diameter. Pits and grooves 0.5-1 cm in depth, 0.5-1.5 cm in diameter. Very spongy in consistency.

Color:
Pink to purple and fluoresces light blue.

Habitat:
Inhabit coral reefs, most commonly grow on walls. Often associated with Sponge brittle stars (Ophiothrix suensonii ).

Distribution:
Occasional in South Florida and Bahamas; common to occasional in the Caribbean.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Porifera
Genus Callyspongia
Species Callyspongia plicifera

Status in World Register of Marine Species

Synonym of Callyspongia (Cladochalina) plicifera (Lamarck, 1814)

Scientific synonyms and common names

Azure vase sponge [English]
Fluorescerende buisspons [Dutch]
Éponge tubulaire fluorescente [French]
Fluoreszierender Röhrenschwamm [German]

Humann, P., 1992. Reef Creature Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas, (ed. N. Deloach). New World Publications, Inc., Paramount Miller Graphics, Inc., Jacksonville, Florida.

Soest, R.W.M. van, 1980. Marine sponges from Curaçao and other Caribbean islands. Part II. Haplosclerida. Studies on the fauna of Curaçao and other Caribbean islands, 191.

You can continue searching for Callyspongia plicifera on one of these Web sites:

Fauna Europaea (animals) | IOPI (plants) | NCBI (genetic)

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